Remember when the idea of a fully automated smart home seemed like science fiction? We may not have a butler robot yet, but many of us have at least a few smart home products these days, all thanks to smart speakers.
Speakers with built-in smart features and voice assistants powered by artificial intelligence technology such as the Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod continue to dominate the smart home market. According to some recent statistics, the number of smart speakers in the United States has increased by more than 40% compared to 2018 and reached 66,4 million, or 26,2% of the American population.
Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant have stormed our homes. Many of them now consider smart speakers to represent the future of home automation. In fact, they can do many things: answer almost any question, listen to music, tell you the news, control not only your smart devices (like your Philips Hue bulbs or your smart locks), but also everything from your refrigerator to your living room. . lights, sometimes without much help from you.
A new fleet of Amazon products is expected to move, from the third-generation Echo speaker to the Alexa-compatible smart glasses (the Echo frames). Amazon Echo Studio could be a serious candidate for this list too, considering Dolby Atmos support and 360-degree audio, though you had to wait a bit longer to get them.
Whether it's exciting, scary, or just a little gruesome, it will depend on your vision for permanent technology in your home. But it's hard to say that these devices aren't incredibly practical, and if you're changing TV channels or turning off the lights with your voice, it's hard to deny the convenience once you've done so. I tried
So if you need help finding your next personal assistant, check out our guide below and find the smart speaker that fits your current setup, your budget, and the aesthetics of your home. Each of the speakers is hand-selected by our editors, and while each has pros / cons, they are all excellent in their own way.
(For British readers, you can also check out the Pure DiscovR smart speaker.)
Can't see the perfect speaker for you? Don't worry.Be sure to check back regularly as we'll update this list with the best smart speakers, as well as the expected new speaker rumors at the end.
The Sonos One now supports Amazon's Alexa and Siri via AirPlay 2. Source: Sonos.
Top Smart Stakeholders FAQ - Answers to Quick Questions
What can smart speakers do? Smart speakers can do a lot of things. First, they're full speakers, from the fantastic Apple HomePod sound to the simpler Amazon Echo Dot.
But they also have many special features thanks to the integrated smart voice assistants. These smart assistants are voice activated, which means you can literally ask them to do a lot of things, like listening to music, answering questions, and controlling other smart home devices. And that is just the beginning.
Which voice assistant is the best? In general it is subjective. Some people have always liked the best Apple products and remain loyal to Siri. Others really love Alexa after catching an echo from the smart speaker launch.
In the general opinion, Google Assistant is by far the most accurate voice assistant. If you have a lot of Apple products Siri is of course the best and for general compatibility you'd better choose Alexa. But these are not hard and fast rules.
Is Alexa better than Google? For starters, the choice may depend on the speaker you prefer. Of course, Amazon's Echo line is very similar to Google Home, but the Show, Spot and Dot functions are very different.
As for the smart assistants in the speakers, both are extremely capable. Alexa has many skills that set her apart from others. But Google has long been a leader in the field of AI, long before the smart speaker market came along.
Is there a monthly fee for Alexa? No, you don't need anything other than the free Alexa app. However, you will enjoy many benefits if you are an Amazon Prime member.
The best smart speakers 2019
1. SonosOne
The most efficient smart speaker on the market.
Is rich
The best of Alexa and Sonos.
Play music while Alexa is muted
Google Assistant MIA for now
Premium price
Sonos' first Alexa speaker is a sleek, feature-rich, great-sounding device that combines the best of both worlds. Continuing to improve, on the one hand, Alexa, and Sonos on the other, with its own multi-room knack and unmatched sonic performance.
The mix also packs a new, promising game-changing feature: AirPlay 2. With this, the Sonos One can talk to Siri and form a multi-room coupling with the Apple HomePod, making it the most versatile speaker on the list.
If anything is keeping the Sonos One from returning to its glory, it's that Google Assistant is still MIA after postponing the update in November 2018 and is still nowhere to be found in the middle of 2019.
If Google Assistant support is needed (hopefully this year), the Sonos One promises to become the leader in the smart home market.
If you like the Sonos range but are feeling a bit disappointed in their creations thus far, you will be delighted to find that the brand has launched a new range of built-in, in-ceiling and outdoor speakers, Line Sonos Architectural.
2.Apple HomePod
Its excellent speaker so smart
Super sound
Beautiful minimalist design
Siri accuracy is high
Siri's range is limited.
No Bluetooth streaming
Apple Music needs
The highly anticipated Apple HomePod has finally entered the smart speaker battle for your library in early 2018.
The obvious benefit of an Apple HomePod compared to an Echo or Google Home device is that it will work well with your other Apple products. So if you're a die-hard Apple fan, the HomePod is a no-brainer.
But it's worth asking the same question that you should always ask yourself when trying out a new Apple product: how much premium should you pay to have a device that only integrates seamlessly with the Apple product? Apple ecosystem?
When we looked at the device, we were torn, because we were actually looking at two things at once: how is the HomePod considered a high-end speaker, and how does it behave as a startup hub? smart.
In the first category, the HomePod is excellent because it offers incredible sound and a very intuitive setup. But in the latter case, Siri is only mediocre in its implementation, and the fact that it cannot leave the Apple ecosystem for many key functions is also a hindrance.
Apple would work on the Apple HomePod 2, or a cheaper and more compact HomePod Mini, the launch of which would have been announced in 2019 - we're halfway there and we're still waiting. Fingers crossed will be worth it.
(Image credit: LaComparacion)
3.Amazon Echo (2019)
The Amazon Echo just got a helping hand
Bigger shape
His greatest
New Alexa features
More of the same
The Alexa app needs to be improved
Do not zigbee
The humble Amazon Echo has already entered millions of homes, and with good reason. This is an affordable entry point for those starting their smart home, with enough audio capacity to handle news, podcasts, music, or whatever else you are using with your voice server. .
This is especially true with the new 2019 Amazon Echo, a third-generation model that further amplifies the audio with the drivers used in the 2018 Echo Plus, albeit without the latter's Zibgee compatibility.
This even looks like an Echo Plus, and it can be confusing to tell them apart if you have one in your home, but the 2019 update to the standard Echo raises the baseline for the entire range. At € 99.99 / € 89.99 / € 149 AU, it's still cheaper than the Plus or Apple HomePod, despite the improved sound quality.
With its softer fabric appearance than previous, more industrial models, Alexa looks more comfortable than ever in a living room. The new capabilities of artificial intelligence have introduced voice profiling features and more variation when it comes to changing the speed of speech.
We don't think you should use it to replace your stereo; You might want to use the new Echo Studio announced for it, but at the same time, it's a great place to start if you want to get a taste of what smart home life is like.
(Image credit: GE)
4. Google home
Ideal for Chromecast owners and curious types.
Customizable base
Large library of songs.
Hardware ecosystem expansion
Google services are missing
Requires precise phraseology
Google Cast support needs work
For starters, you may never be able to appreciate the amount of music available on YouTube without purchasing a Google Home account. We're not saying that Google Home can play every song you can imagine, but after diving into the depths of the 90s, we still couldn't find a tune. Google Home couldn't locate it and start playing it.
If Google Home stands out as a DJ, it's also a surprisingly smart smart home hub. It already incorporates some of the largest platforms available at the moment, such as Samsung's Nest, Philips, and SmartThings. This number will increase again in a few months.
But we are divided when it comes to recommending Google Home. In some ways, it's disappointing and doesn't rely on the coveted smart home hub that Google has brought to market.
This is because it is not there yet. She's a bit rigid in her understanding of the language, her list of smart home devices is getting longer, but it's still a bit of a disappointment, and perhaps the biggest disappointment of all, she doesn't understand much of Google's Basic Services.
It has the potential to expand to compete with Amazon's Echo in the future, but for now, the Google Home is just a smart novelty with access to YouTube Music, built-in Google Cast, and the ability to save yourself a switch.
Over the past year, the Google Home received several notable updates, including the fact that you can now use the device to make calls to landlines in the UK. The Google Assistant has also been updated to include bilingual features, continuous conversation, and multiple actions. A more recent update also brought the Google Assistant to Nest Security's alarm systems.
UPDATE: Google would be working on a smart Mini Mini speaker with powerful sound. The Nest Mini, if that's the name of the last device that's supposed to be installed, will have a better soundscape than the Google Home Mini and will be wall-mountable.
(Image credit: future)
Wildcard for UK Readers: Pure DiscovR
An Alexa speaker with a KO design
It is expansive and detailed
Alexa voice control
Intuitive controls
Preset any voice command
The rubber base is a bit brittle.
Premium price
Sound can drown out the microphone.
The Amazon Echo range is still the market leader in smart speakers, at least at the sales level, but despite their hands-free convenience, they are not speakers that you will want if you want high-quality sound.
Pure DiscovR manages to combine high-end audio with all of Alexa's smart elements, as well as intuitive touch controls to make using it by hand or by voice a real pleasure. The ability to save voice commands as presets is invaluable, and the rest of the smart speaker market could learn from them.
The eye-catching design helps too. The rounded cube shape and raised speaker, which can be compressed into the case to turn off the Alexa mic, feels extremely innovative in a crowded market, while the flickering colors around the edge of the LED offer so much more. lighting than the discreet echo. blue.
However, you will not get your hands on that in the United States. The Pure DiscovR is sold exclusively through John Lewis in the UK and is expected to launch in Europe later in 2019. The speaker is available in graphite and silver finishes, listed by John Lewis in black or white.
If you are looking for a quality smart speaker, with innovative voice control, sound quality and design, and user privacy, Pure DiscovR is exactly what you need.
The best smart speakers with a screen 2019
1.Google Home Hub
A rival for the Amazon Echo Show
Cheaper than Echo Show
Google Photos integration
Innovative user interface for viewing at home
Small screen
Limited video calls
Bass audio
With the recent wave of smart display devices from big tech companies, you have more options than ever if you want a display included with your smart speaker.
Google Home Hub is one of the latest smart display models. It offers its closest rival, the Amazon Echo Show, a huge advantage, with intuitive voice control and well-designed applications.
That said, it's not an audiophile speaker - it works well enough to play background music while you're doing homework or reading, but it doesn't have enough sound power to let you listen. the music.
Where the Google Home hub stands out, it serves as a control center for your digital home, supporting over 5,000 smart devices from 400 companies, and more, priced around € 80 / € 80 cheaper than the Amazon Echo. Show (the difference in Australia is huge € 150), it is also a great value.
2. Amazon Echo Show (2nd generation)
Like an echo but with a screen
Great voice recognition.
Improved touch screen
Competent smart home center
The president is too serious
Limited support for third-party applications.
Alexa needs to be at school
The updated Echo Show is a step in the right direction, with a better design, clearer screen, and superior sound, but support for third-party streaming services is limited.
The touchscreen measures 1280 x 720 px, so it won't surprise you, but it does look beautiful from afar. It also offers adaptive brightness, though the screen isn't the primary mode of interaction with the Echo Show - it's optimized for voice activation via Amazon Alexa, and ideal to use as that potter in the kitchen.
This isn't the cheapest smart display on the market, however, it adds value by combining devices you already own and those you could buy at a lower price elsewhere - look at the Amazon Echo Dot, for example.
Everything is well configured and the new show is a clear improvement over the original version. If you like watching cooking tutorials or listening to music while cooking, it deserves a place on your kitchen counter.
(Update: Amazon Echo Show 5 is now available for pre-order: This third-gen little smart display costs less than half the price of the current second-gen Echo Show, and will be available in June and July.
Check out our article on Amazon Echo Show 5 release date, news, and rumors for everything you need to know.)
3. Amazon Echo Spot
This addition to the Echo family is a fun and versatile video device.
Lovely form factor
Delete the video
Video clip
More expensive than echo
In our opinion, the Amazon Echo Spot is the best-designed Alexa device Amazon ever invented - it's a device you love to use in your bedroom, desk, kitchen, and just about anywhere else.
The Spot is versatile - it doesn't have a chameleon's ability to fit in the room you put it in, but it's certainly not just a smart alarm clock, Amazon has made that very clear.
He does the whole Echo Show show, but everything feels better in this smaller form factor. The design is excellent, it is available in black and white, and we can easily see the Spot being used in the bedroom, kitchen or even on a desk. In fact, you may want it in all of these places.
That's the thing about the Amazon Echo Spot: Like other Echo devices, Amazon wants you to have a crowd at home so you always have access to video chat, wherever you are.
Essentially, you want the Echo point to replace the Echo point. Amazon Echo Spot, however, costs slightly more than the new Echo, much more expensive than an Echo Dot.
This is due to the addition of the screen. While we haven't seen this deadly screen ability yet, it improves the look of the Spot and gives it more possibilities than just a smart speaker.
We just hope Amazon's skills are much easier to use for video. Once this happens, the Amazon Echo Spot will become an absolute must.
What could happen soon?
These are the best smart speakers on the market today, but with the resounding success of these voice-activated home helpers, this selection is probably just getting started.
Several other companies, including some of the biggest names in technology, are currently working on their own smart home audio products as well. Whether they disrupt the market or turn out to be a hot air load remains to be seen.
But in the meantime, these are some of the highly anticipated posts and rumors currently circulating:
(Image credit: Spotify)
Spotify smart speaker
There are many speakers on the market that already allow you to connect to your Spotify account. But that doesn't mean the popular streaming service can't make its own product to compete with the biggest names in technology.
Rumors suggest that Spotify is working on its own voice search interface, but has yet to introduce a speaker that can compete with Amazon, like the Echo or Google Home.
That didn't stop us from imagining what a Spotify smart speaker would look like.
Read our Spotify Wish List: What We Want To See In A Spotify Smart Speaker.
(Image credit: Samsung)
Smart speaker Samsung Galaxy Home
Now it's official, though details are still scant: Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Home smart speaker at its Unpacked 2018 event, promising high-quality sound alongside some built-in artificial light smart intelligence systems provided by Bixby.
We do not know the price or the release date yet, although we assume that it will work with the Samsung SmartThings ecosystem.
The launch of the Samsung Galaxy Home has been somewhat of a break since the announcement of the Bixby-controlled smart speaker back in August 2018, but we may have an expected release date. Kind of...
Addressing the Korea Herald, Kim Hyun-suk, one of Samsung's CEOs and president of the consumer electronics division, said the company is targeting a launch "in the middle of the second half of the year." # 39; years. ”Fingers crossed, we got this speaker ahead of the 2019 launch.
Learn more: What we expect from the Samsung Galaxy Home smart speaker.
Everything is a smart speaker
The future may not be the future you should buy, but it will focus more on integrating voice-activated smart assistants into other products.
Earlier this year at CES 2019, many manufacturers were boasting about integrating voice assistants; Alexa and Google Assistant were found in cars, bathroom mirrors, and even smoke detectors.
It might sound a bit fancy, but it actually solves one of the biggest smart home problems: You want to have access to your voice assistant in every room, but you really don't want to fill your home with speakers.
Buying smart speakers on Black Friday
There's no question about it - there are plenty of smart speakers you could consider buying, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday will be a time when many will see jaw-dropping prices as Amazon, Google, Sonos, and others look to battle each other. on the run to get into your house.
The Amazon Echo range is about to explode, especially with 14 new Echo products arriving in the coming months. If you're looking to get a cheap echo on Black Friday sales, make sure it fits the model you want. In general, it's the older products that see the biggest price drops, although Amazon also tends to lower the prices of newer models to attract interest in hardware.
Black Friday is also a great time to use 2-in-1 deals, making it easy to create an ecosystem of smart speakers and smart home devices, even if you play happier together. made by the same manufacturer (or just use the same smart assistant).